RE: Tool Sources

["Ray Henry" <62dart@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Years back, right out of school, when I started swinging wrenches for a
living, I went to work at a dealership. I rolled in with Craftsman tools.
The largest tool box they had at the time. I had two of each of all the
basic tools. Wrenches, ratchets, sockets, screwdrivers, etc. Everything
duplicated. The older mechanics had a good chuckle over my "cheap" tools.
Interestingly enough, as time passed, they would come to me to borrow stuff.

My theory was that when something broke, I could just use the other one, and
replace it on the way home (I had to pass a Sears). So while my tools DID
break more often than their Mac and Snap-On, they had to wait for the truck
to stop by, often leaving them without that tool for a few days. As time
passed, I did replace a number of my tools with more expensive stuff.
Ultimately, I lent out more of my Craftsman tools than I had to borrow
"professional" tools. My investment was, at the time, probably under $4,000.
I made $35,000 that first year with those tools. That was decent money in
the mid-80's.

After I decided that twisting wrenches for a living took too much fun away
from doing it only on my own cars, I went out to make real money in an
unrelated field. It was while I was away that I had my garage broken into,
and all my tools stolen. I decide that since I was only using them for my
own pleasure, I wasn't going to replace them with Craftsman or better unless
I needed to. So I made a trip to Princess Auto here (our local version of
something like Harbor Freight or Northern Hydraulics) and bought everything
at next to nothing. My theory then was that when I broke something, I would
hit Sears or Canadian Tire and replace the broken tool with Craftsman or
Mastercraft. And that's exactly what I've done. 

I am now in possession of 3 toolboxes, more than I had when I was using them
for a living. Those are the full cabinets, top & bottoms. Go through them,
you will still see a lot of Power Fist (Princess Auto China junk) scattered
throughout that still has yet to break after more than 15 years. I've been
slowly moving some of that cheap stuff to my "yard box", a tool kit I take
to the wrecking yards when I am scavenging parts. Or lend out to friends
that I have concerns may "forget" to return something. Amazing how no-name
tools always get returned when brand name stuff doesn't.

Sure, the cheap stuff has an ungainly look & feel. Sure, it's not as
comfortable to use. But, for the most part, it does the same job. At least
when one is not using them day in and day out.

So I never laugh at anyone's choice of tools. You buy what's in your budget,
or what makes economical sense. If you need it only once every 5 years,
there's probably something that is made in China that will do the job at a
tenth of the price of the professional tools. So I have everything from
Power Fist to Snap-On. And yes, I still have 2 (or more) of each socket,
wrench, screwdriver, etc.

Recently my wife was complaining about the number of tools I owned. She
failed to comprehend why I needed "two of everything". So I spent the time
to make her aware of every time I needed two 1/2 inch wrenches at the same
time. Or two 7/8 inch sockets on 1/2 inch wrenches at the same time. I would
even phone her from the wrecking yard whenever something like that happened.
Or send her a text when she was at work and that happened.

She has decided to stop complaining about my tool collection. In fact, when
she sees tools on sale, she brings the sale to my attention, and asks if I'm
sure I already have two of them. Life doesn't get much better.....  :)



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